Innovations for sustainable cities:Grants for leading-edge technologies and new system solutions

Demographic and economic growth in the world’s cities demand innovations for sustainable solutions in areas such as waste, water, air, construction, noise, energy and transport. Such solutions are needed when cities are built, renovated and managed. To meet these needs, a new generation of advanced environmental technologies must be developed.

The total funding available for the programme is SEK 68 million during 2016 2019.

The Swedish EPA is announcing this grants call in co-operation with the National Board of Housing, Building and Planning and with the Swedish Energy Agency. The initiative is being implemented as part of the Swedish Government’s investments in climate action.

Purpose of the grant

The grant aims to increase the demand in and use of leading-edge technologies and advanced system solutions in urban environments.

Both public and private sector organisations can apply

Organisations that may apply for the grant include county councils, municipalities, publicly traded companies, general partnerships, limited partnerships, organisations, associations and foundations, as well as universities and other institutes of higher education (although not for pure research). The organisation must be registered in Sweden.

Private individuals, sole proprietors and unincorporated partnerships are not eligible to apply.

Planning grants are available

Grants are available for designing and planning and for feasibility studies for sustainable urban development that focus on the use of leading-edge technologies and advanced system solutions.

The grant must not be used for actions or investments; instead, it is intended for planning prior to any actions. The grant is intended to stimulate investments in Sweden.

Size of the grant

The grant can finance up to 100 per cent of a project. Co-financing is possible through funding by other stakeholders or participation in the actual work.

Applying for the grant

The application period for grant has ended.

Criteria for assessing the application

Applications will be assessed based on the following criteria:

A fully completed application and a project objective in line with the grant

The feasibility of the project as well as the actions and investments it is intended to realise

The level of innovation

Expected short-term and long-term impacts on urban sustainability (environmentally, socially and economically) when the planned actions and investments are assessed

Other added value for sustainable urban development

Grant award decisions

After a decision is taken, 75 per cent of the requested funding will be disbursed to applicants whose applications were granted. The remaining funds (25 per cent) will be disbursed when the results of the planning project are presented to and approved by the Swedish EPA.